The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-10-27
cHANaI OF FORTUNE.

liza country clergymans daughter
10 at al loveable, she is generally the
pet Of the parish. Anna Irwin was
pre-eminently so. Old and young
looked upoo her with effect as Sun
day after sunday she glided in her
timid. graceful beauty, into the rec-
tory pew. and her father might be
pardoued II, even from the chancel,
bis ego songht her loved form, and
his ear the low tones Of her voice.
For sixteen years she read aud studs
led, sang and laughed, surrouned by
fond, admiriug hearts. But there
came change, . day whom Or. Ir-
vim preached his last sermon, and
laid his heed down in the old church
yard. Anna went away to New York.
II is needless to trace the progress
Of the changes, misfortunes by which
she sunk in four or FIVE years from q
music-teacher to taking in sewing
then to working at hat-binding.
When the hard times Of this last
fall fell upon the country, even this
humble resource failed her. She
could find nothing to do, and che
had no money. Ruin had over-tak-
On her few friends 10 the city. Weeks
passed. She sold aud pawned most
OF her clothing. aud all ether articles
Of auy value. She was obliged to
leave her small but respectable apart
ment, aud sleep on rag mattress in
q fireless, bare garret, glad OF the
privilege. One fearfully cold night
last winter, che crept to that COM
fortress pallet, foot-sore from q
whole days fruitless walking in
search Of employment. For five days
she had not tasted food. She had
only scant worn rug for covering.
For hours her teeth chattered, and
her limbs ached. She curled berself
into every imaginable position in the
vain effort to obtain o moments
warmth for any portion Of her frame.
And then che thought OF her home,
where each night she had wrapped
herself in thick, soft blankets and
lain in warm, dreamless rest till
morning dawn. She thought Of her
father,s good. night kiss and hlassino.
She slept at last, for she was utterly
exhausted, waking to suffering every
five minutes, tortured by hideous
nightmares Of food turning to stone,
ice in her grasp, by grinning faces;
and never for one instant losing the
pain Of cold.
In the morning she saw q girl,
who, with her old mother had slept,
il sleep it could be called, in the
same room, preparing to 60 out beg
ging for cold victuals. Two little
girls who lived in the opposite gar
ret also issued forth, aud Anna, des'
pairing. aud nearly wild with hunger
aud cold, went out after them. She
soon found herself in street where
every surrounding showed wealth
aud luxury. She thought OF the more
respectable mode OF begging, to ring
at the front door, and asking for one
Of the family, tell her story. But
her pride shrank from that even
more tran from fitting down an
area-steps. And this at length she
did. Il havn't anything said the
servaLt, who answered her knock.
Wont you let me warm myself by
the fret? whispered Anna. 4 guess
not said the girl. The lady don't
like such people about the kitchen,
aud she shut the door in her face
She could have lain down and died
on the cold door-stone-- willingly.
After two or three gasps she stam-
bled up the steps, rolled her FROST
bitten fingers in her thin do Bage
cape, and went on down the broad
Avenue, bitter thoughts OF man and
Of God-msy He forgive her!--
shrishing in her heart The long
rows OF costly houses were to her
like costly Notifications, reared by
hard. triumphant sel6shness, to keep
her and such as her from sharing in
common comforts, defended BY cruel,
unsrring weapons. Oh! what pitiiess
tyrants seemed human law, human
societyl Her feet were numb, but
they carried her on over the ice-csld
pavsments like one in dream, SEN
sible only to the biting tooth OF cold,
and the raging Of the dunger~psngs.
Down broad stoop q little below
her, came q young lady, mufisd in
frr, a., r.. 49,, nhaaLo Cha mana.